Multiple-joint miter-clamp.



F. WAGNER.

MULTIPLE JOINT MITER CLAMP.

APPLICATION PILED APR. 22, 1013.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

Z BHBETB-BHIIET 1.

P. WAGNER.

MULTIPLE JOINT MITER CLAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 22, 1913.

1 973 549 Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

awm. 20

FRANK WAGNER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MULTIPLE-JOINT MITER-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

Application filed April 22, 1918. Serial No. 762,947.

T 0 all whom it ma concern:

Be it known t at I, FRANK WAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple-Joint Miter-Clamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates broadly to clamps, and has particular reference to that type of such devices known as multiple joint miter clamps.

As its principal object, this invention contemplates the provision of a frame clamp constructed in such manner that the various portions of the frame may be quickly assembled in clamping relation to hold heterogeneous masses in their desired assembled relation.

This invention has been designed with particular reference to the assembling of panels of columns or posts, tank staves, picture frames, and analogous structures, and therefore aims to provide an effective clamping device for holding the various elements in the picture frame, or similar structure, in assembled position after the glue has been applied, until the glue has set sufficiently to permit the frame to be handled in the usual manner.

This invention further aims to provide a clamp which may be utilized to hold in the desired position, the elements of a structure formed of two, three or more parts.

A further objectis to construct the clam in such manner that the elements employed in holding the portions of a three-part structure may be readily detached to permit the substitution of the means employed in holdmg the elements of a structure of a larger 01 smaller number of parts, in assembled relation.

v The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

' With reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the clamp frame of this invention, illustrated in its assembled relation to three elements of a picture frame. Fig. 2 is a top plan view illustrating the application of the clamp to a two-piece picture frame. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the clamp frame applied to a four-piece picture frame. Fig. 4

is a side elevation of one of the clamp frame members. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the block employed when the clampin frame is applied to a structure having less than four parts.

Before proceeding to the description of the drawings, it is desirable to emphasize the fact that while this invention has been designed with particular reference to the clamping of a picture frame, it may, nevertheless, be readily applied to the panels of a post or column, to the staves of a tank, or to any other structure analogous to the above.

Proceeding now to the description of the drawings, the clamping frame of this invention consists essentially in a plurality of coacting frame members, one of which is designated in Fig.1 by the numeral 1. In this connection it is to be observed that inasmuch as each frame member of the clamp is identical in construction, and that the clamping frames, as embodied in the various applications of the device, differ only in the number of frame members employed, it will be necessary to describe in detail only one of the elements.

The member 1 includes a pair of elongated iron straps 2 and 3, arranged in parallel spaced relation to each other, and provided with longitudinally extending, alined slots 4. At one end of the frame member produced by the members 2 and 3, is arranged a fixed block 5, mounted between the members 2 and 3 and held in fixed relation thereto by a securing bolt- 6 and counter sunk screws 7, or other suitable fastening means. The block 5 is formed with a laterally extending V-shaped recess 8, the inclined faces of which, indicated by dotted lines at 9 and 10 in Fig. 1, lie approximately at right angles to each other, and which extend at an angle of 45 to a line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the member 1.

* Slidably mounted between the members 2 and 3, and operating approximately the ensuitable and similar devices 12, mounted for sliding movement through the slots 4 and desi ned to prevent the withdrawal of the bloc from between the members 2 and 3. As a means for holding the block 11 in adjusted position this invention preferably em ploys' a bolt 13, the head of which lies exteriorly of the member 2. The bolt extends through the member 11 and is of such length that its free terminal, indicated at 14, projects beyond the outer face of the member 3. Screw threaded on the terminal 14 of the bolt 13 is a wing locking nut 15, which may be tightened to produce a severe gripping engagement of the inner faces of the members 2 and 3 with the adjacent edges of the block 11.

By reference to Fig. 3 in which the clamp ing frame is illustrated in its application to a square picture frame, it will be observed that'four of the frame members 1 are employed. It will be further noted that the frames are arranged with an adjustable block 11 and a fixed block 5, at each corner of the frame. It is apparent that by this arrangement of the frame members 1, the blocks 11 may be adjusted longitudinally of the members 2 and 3 to bring the faces 9 of the grooves in the block 11 in alinement with the corresponding faces of the grooves of the blocks 5. The frame members 1 being thus arranged, a parallel screw clamp, designated as an entirety by the numeral 16, is applied to each corner of the clamping frame with the clamping terminals 17 seated in the grooves 8 of the clamping blocks, and in gripping engagement with the face 10 of the grooves.

When the clamp is applied to a two-piece frame, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the adjustable block, above described, is removed, and a modified form of adjustable block, illustrated in Fig. 5, is substituted. This modified block 20 is similar to the preferred form as regardsthe method of mounting it between the members 2 and 3, but differs in this respect, that instead of having a groove formed in its face there is provided a V- shaped oove 21 formed terminally of the block. y reference to Fig. 2, the application of the modified block 20 to the free ends of a two-piece frame will be readily discerned.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most eficient and practical; yet, realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary,

. noracae I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of lparts may be resorted to, when required, wit out sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a plurality of parallel jaw clamps, of a pluralit of clamping frame members, each of said rame members including a pair of spaced strap members extending in parallel relation to each other, afixed terminal block mounted between said frame members and an adjustable block slidably mounted between the said strap members, said adjustable and fixed blocks, being each provided with a ll-shaped laterally extending groove adapted to receive the gripping jaws of said parallel jaw clamps, and means for securing said adjustable blocks in an adjusted positlon.

2. The combination with a plurality of parallel jaw clamps of a plurality of clamping frame members, eac clamping frame member including a pair of metallic straps arranged in parallel spaced relation to each other, a fixed block mounted between the said straps and at one terminal thereof, and an adjustable block slidably mounted between the said straps, a pair of screws carried by said adjustable block and operating through a pair of longitudinally extending slots formed in said strap members, a locking bolt carried by said adjustable block for producing a gripping engagement of the said strap members with the said block, said adjustable and fixed block members being each provided with a ll-shaped laterally extending groove adapted to receive the gripping jaws ofthe said parallel jaw clamps.

3. The combination with a plurality of parallel jaw clamps, of a clamping frame including a plurality of individual frame members, each of said frame members including a pair of strap members arranged in parallel spaced relation to each other, a fixed block secured between said straps at one terminal thereof, a block slidably mounted between said straps and adapted for longitudinal adjustment, guide lugs carried by said adjustable block and operating in longitudinally extending slots formed in said strap, said adjustable and fixed blocks being each provided with a ll-shaped laterally extending groove adapted to receive the gripping jaws of the said parallel jaw clamps, and means for holding said slidable block in adjusted position.

4. The combination with a plurality of parallel jaw clamps, of a clamping frame including a plurality of separate frame members, each of said frame members including a. pair of strap members, a fixed block secured terminally between said straps,

a slidable block mounted forlongitudinal fee adjustment between said straps, and means In testimony whereof I ailix my signature fordhgldianglsailii block aiigllSgfdbIiOSglgn, in presence of two witnesses. sai Xe oc andsai sia e 00 eing each provided with substantially V- FRANK WAGNER 5 shaped laterally extending grooves adapted Witnesses:

to receive the gripping jaws of the parallel JOSEPH BECKMANN, jaw clamps. JOHANN ZIMMERMANN. 

